581943 A7 B7 五 、發明說明（ 【發明之應用領域】 本發明是關於一種用於影印機、印表機等的光電成像顯影裝 置，尤指使用液體顯影劑並能防止該_影劑外漏的液體光電成像顯 影裝置。 【發明之背景】 麵的顧光電雌顯影裝置以多種不同方式令液體顯影劑 接觸要顯影的靜電灘。依據其中〜方法，載有靜電潛像之感光鼓 或其它構件的表面浸入液體顯影劑洛而顯像。 如美國專利5,017,968號所述的另一方法中，液體顯影劑送到 與載有靜電潛像之構件橫亙的顯影頭，液體顯影劑經由顯影頭中的 一通道送到開口，在該處接觸影像承載構件的表面。然後液體顯影 劑從開口經由顯影頭的另一通道抽出。 另一液體膨裝置中，如美國專利5708937號所示，旋轉圓筒 在供應點塗上液麵影劑，並令顯影劑接觸影構件而顯像。 將液體顯影劑經由讎件寬度橫亙之槽而送到影構件的其 它裝置，則揭示於美國專利5,708,936、5,737,672、5,765,078號。 將液體顯影劑送到影像承載構件的此種裝置其缺點如下：異 味產生，導因於顯影單元內之液體顯影劑的蒸發；在影像承載構件 的單一行程中難以用不同色的顯影劑重製彩色影像;過大的尺寸及 高成本。 另一方面，美_專利 5,358,659、5,567,564、5,667,716 號揭示 磁性液體顯影劑的製法，而美國專利4,797,013號使用磁鐵所保持 • 丨 : --II---- 裝 — II 訂！---線 (請先閱讀背面之注意事項再填寫本頁) 濟 部 智 慧 財 產 局 員 工 消 費581943 A7 B7 V. Description of the Invention ([Application Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a photoelectric imaging and developing device used in a photocopier, a printer, etc., especially using a liquid developer and preventing the leakage of the _ shadow agent. Liquid electrophotographic imaging and developing device. [Background of the invention] The surface of the electrophotographic female developing device exposes the liquid developer to the electrostatic beach to be developed in a variety of different ways. According to the method mentioned above, the photosensitive drum or other components carrying the latent electrostatic image The surface is immersed in a liquid developer to develop the image. In another method described in U.S. Patent No. 5,017,968, the liquid developer is sent to a developing head that is transverse to a member carrying an electrostatic latent image, and the liquid developer is passed through one of the developing heads. The channel is sent to the opening, where it contacts the surface of the image bearing member. Then, the liquid developer is withdrawn from the opening through another channel of the developing head. In another liquid expansion device, as shown in US Patent No. 5,708,937, a rotating cylinder is supplying The liquid developer is applied on the spot, and the developer is brought into contact with the shadow member to develop the image. The liquid developer is sent to the shadow member through a groove across the width of the document. Other devices are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,708,936, 5,737,672, and 5,765,078. Disadvantages of this device for delivering a liquid developer to an image bearing member are as follows: odors are generated due to the evaporation of the liquid developer in the developing unit; It is difficult to reproduce color images with different-colored developers in a single stroke of the image bearing member; too large size and high cost. On the other hand, US Patent No. 5,358,659, 5,567,564, 5,667,716 discloses a method for manufacturing a magnetic liquid developer, and US Patent No. 4,797,013 held by a magnet • 丨: --II ---- equipment—II order! --- line (Please read the precautions on the back before filling this page) Employees of the Ministry of Economic Affairs
本紙張尺度適用中國國家標準（CNS)A4規格（210 X 297公釐） 經濟部智慧財產局員工消費合作社印製 581943 Α7 Β7 五、發明說明（J) 的鐵流體，以密封軸承裝置中的潤滑劑。美國專利4,645,960揭示 鐵流體軸承。美國專利5461466號揭示液體碳粉匣的密封件，在不 使用時將其封閉。 【發明之目的】 本發明的目的乃在提供克服習知缺點之靜電潛像的液體顯影 裝置。 本發明另一目的是提供減少液體顯影劑之蒸氣逸入周圍大氣 的液體顯影裝置。 本發明另一目的是提供在影像承載構件單一行程中有助於靜 電讎之多色顯影的液體讎裝置。 本發明另一目標是提供體積小且廉價的液體顯影裝置。 【發明槪要】 依據本發明一實施例赘提供一種液體顯影裝置，包括： 顯影單元，在感光鼓的活動影像承載表面旁具有長形開口， 用以在影像承載表面上將靜電灘轉變成碳粉影像； 氣流通道，環繞顯影單元的長形開口，其中所含的氣流具有 預定壓力，以將液體顯影劑保持在顯影單元與影像承載表面之間的 空間內，同時允許吸附在影像承載表面上之液體顯影劑中的碳粉粒 子固持在影像承載表面上，而將易揮發的顯影劑溶劑帶入周圍大氣 中。 依據本發明另一實施例，提供一種液體顯影裝置，包括： 多個顯影單元7在感光鼓的活動影#表面旁各具有長形 4 本紙張尺凌適用中國國家標準（CNS)A4規格（210 X 297公釐） . * - - I . ---— II--til!-----^ (請先閱讀背面之注意事項再填寫本頁) 經濟部智慧財產局員工消費合作社印製 581943 A7 B7 五、發明說明（々）This paper size is in accordance with Chinese National Standard (CNS) A4 (210 X 297 mm). Printed by the Employees' Cooperative of the Intellectual Property Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. 581943 Α7 Β7 V. Description of the invention (J) Ferrofluid to seal the lubrication in the bearing device Agent. U.S. Patent 4,645,960 discloses ferrofluid bearings. U.S. Patent No. 5,461,466 discloses a seal for a liquid toner cartridge, which closes it when not in use. [Objective of the Invention] The object of the present invention is to provide a liquid developing device for an electrostatic latent image which overcomes conventional disadvantages. Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid developing device which reduces the escape of the vapor of the liquid developer into the surrounding atmosphere. Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid concrete device which facilitates multi-color development of static electricity in a single stroke of the image bearing member. Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid developing device which is small and inexpensive. [Inventive summary] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a liquid developing device is provided, including: a developing unit having a long opening next to a moving image bearing surface of a photosensitive drum, for converting an electrostatic beach to carbon on the image bearing surface Powder image; airflow channel, an elongated opening surrounding the developing unit, the airflow contained therein has a predetermined pressure to hold the liquid developer in the space between the developing unit and the image bearing surface, while allowing adsorption on the image bearing surface The toner particles in the liquid developer are held on the image bearing surface, and the volatile developer solvent is brought into the surrounding atmosphere. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a liquid developing device is provided. The liquid developing device includes: a plurality of developing units 7 each having a long shape beside a surface of a moving shadow # of a photosensitive drum. The paper rule is applicable to the Chinese National Standard (CNS) A4 specification (210 X 297 mm). *--I. ---— II--til! ----- ^ (Please read the notes on the back before filling out this page) Printed by the Intellectual Property Bureau Employee Consumer Cooperative of the Ministry of Economic Affairs 581943 A7 B7 V. Description of Invention (々)
•開口，用以在影像承載表面上將靜電潛像轉變成碳粉影像；其中影 像承載表面依序通過多個顯影單兀之旁，且每一顯影單元含有不同 色的顯影劑S 多個氣流通道，環繞各顯影單元的長形開口，其中所含的氣 流具有預定壓力，以將液體顯影劑保持在顯影單元的長形開口附 近；同時當感光鼓的影像承載表面通過長形開口附近時，使碳粉粒 子沈積在感光鼓之影表面的靜電灘上。 【圖式簡單說明】 從以下的詳述並配合附圖，當能凸顯本發明的上述及其它目 的和優點·。附圖中：· 圖1是本發明之液®®裝置之實施例的剖面圖； 圖2是顯示圖1之液體顯影裝置之長形顯影頭的正視圖； 圖3是將4個液體顯影裝置用於光電成像裝置的示意圖； 【發明的詳細說明】 以下說明本發明之較佳實施例之態樣。 圖1至3所示之本發明的較佳實施例中，光電成像裝置（i〇) 包含帶形感光鼓（12 )，呈無端環帶繞著二個分開的滾輪（14)和 (16)，在箭號方向輸送。爲了產生彩色影像，四個列印站（黃 (Y))、紫紅（M)、青藍（C)、黑（K) ) (18)、（20)、 (22)、（24)位於沿著感光鼓帶的直«徑旁。每一列印站包含 布電單元（26)、曝光單元（28)及顯影單元（30)。除了四個顯 影單元（30)含有不同色的液體顯影劑外，所有列印站結構大致相 5 本紙張尺度適用中國國家標準（CNS)A4規格（210 X 297公釐） 1!!! t — — ! — — 服 (請先閱讀背面之注意事項再填寫本頁) 經濟部智慧財產局員工消費合作社印製 581943 A7 B7 五、發明說明（4) 同。 當感光鼓（12)在其環形路徑通過每一列印站時，先被布電 單元（26)布電，再被曝光單元（28)曝光，以產生對應於該列印 站之特定顏色的靜電潛像，然後以對應色的液體顯影劑由顯影單元 ,(30灝像。在承載所有色的影像後，諸如紙張或投影片等介質(34 ) 在轉印站（36)接觸承載彩色影像的表面，因而彩色影像轉印到介 質（34)，其後感光鼓表面在淸潔站（40)淸理，以準備用於下一 彩色影像。 從圖1可知，容器（44)中的液體顯影劑（42)在窄小分開的 平行板（46)和（48)之間送到感光鼓（12)的表面；平行板與感 光鼓表面形成間隙（50),在箭號方向移動時允許液體顯影劑接觸 該表面，平行板之間的間隙(52 )容許碳粉粒子自液讎影劑抽離， 並附在感光鼓表面的布電區而產生碳粉影像。平行板之間設有流量 控制機構以將顯影劑維持麵當的恆壓，流量控制機構在此實施例 中包含流體壓力感測器（54)和控制閥（56)。 平行板邊緣的周邊設有氣流通道（58)，其內的氣流源自抽 氣機（60 )，而其氣壓受控於氣壓控制機構，包含氣壓感測器（62 ) 和流量控制閥（64)，依據本發明，顯影劑的溶劑最好是無毒且易 蒸發的液體，例如水、乙醇或其它有機溶劑。結果，藉由調整液體 顯影劑和氣流的壓力，液體顯影劑中的碳粉粒子可吸附在感光鼓 (12 )表面上的靜電潛像，但未受限於感光鼓表面的顯影劑材料仍 保持在顯影單元內，因此防止液體顯影劑的其它成分散逸。依此方 6 本紙張尺度適用中國國家標準（CNS)A4規袼（210 X 297公釐） . ·· - II---*--I I — I ! ^ i — — — — — — ^« — — — — 1 —--線 (請先閱讀背面之注意事項再填寫本頁) 581943 A7 B7 五、發明說明（夕） 式，防止液體和固體顯影劑組成物送到感光鼓表面而污染接續之其 它色的影像。 (請先閱讀背面之注意事項再填寫本頁) 爲了確保碳粉粒子連續送到感光鼓表面，液體顯影劑（42) 可藉傳統泵啷裝置從容器（44)循環至間隙（50) 〇 另一方面，液體顯影劑（42)之碳粉粒子上的電荷應有正確 極性，並強到足以被潛像的靜電吸附在感光鼓表面。碳粉粒子上之 電荷的極性和大小的控制能以熟習此道者所知的多種傳統方式實 施，在此不再贅述。 間隙（50 )與間隙（52 )應爲約略相同尺寸，最好在約(U mm 與約1 mm之間。間隙尺寸取決於處理速度，應隨處理速度增加而 減少。 利用上述裝置，顯影單元（18)、（20)、（22)、（24) 可以做得精巧而便宜。此外，因爲可控制碳粉粒子與靜電潛像之間 的附著力，故本發明的顯影裝置可以高度有效地進行單行程多色處 理，碳粉粒子不會隨感光鼓表面移動而脫離感光鼓。 經濟部智慧財產局員工消費合作社印製 以上雖參照較佳實施例來說明本發明，但熟習此技藝之人士 閱讀本文後會思及許多修改和變化。所以，所有此種修改和變化皆 包含在以下申請專利範圍所界定的範疇內。 本紙張尺度適用中國國家標準（CNS)A4規格（21〇 X 297公爱） 581943 A7 B7 五、發明説明u ) 【元件符號說明】 (10) (12) (14) 、 （16) 光電成像裝置 感光鼓 滾輪 經濟部智慧財產局員工消費合作社印製 (18)、 (20)、（,22)、（2.4) 歹fj印站 (26) 布電單元 (28) 曝光單元 (30) 顯影單元 (34) 轉印介質 (36) 轉印站 (40) 淸潔站 (42) 液體顯影劑 (44) 容器 (46)、 (48) 平行板 (50)、 (52) 間隙 (54) 流體壓力感測器 (56) • 控制閥 (58) 氣流通道 (60) 抽氣機 (62) 氣壓感測器 (64) 流量控制閥 8 本紙張尺度適用中國國家標準（CNS ) A4規格（210X297公釐） (請先閲讀背面之注意事項再填寫本頁)• Openings for converting the latent electrostatic image into a toner image on the image bearing surface; wherein the image bearing surface sequentially passes by a plurality of developing units, and each developing unit contains a developer S of a different color and multiple air streams A channel that surrounds the long openings of each developing unit, and the airflow contained therein has a predetermined pressure to hold the liquid developer near the long openings of the developing unit; at the same time, when the image bearing surface of the photosensitive drum passes near the long openings, The toner particles are deposited on an electrostatic beach on the surface of the shadow of the photosensitive drum. [Brief Description of the Drawings] The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention can be highlighted from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: · Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the liquid ® device of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front view showing a long developing head of the liquid developing device of Fig. 1; Schematic diagram for a photoelectric imaging device; [Detailed Description of the Invention] The following describes aspects of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the photoelectric imaging device (i0) includes a belt-shaped photosensitive drum (12), which is an endless belt around two separate rollers (14) and (16). , In the direction of the arrow. In order to produce color images, four printing stations (yellow (Y)), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K)) (18), (20), (22), (24) are located along the Straight next to the drum belt. Each printing station includes a power distribution unit (26), an exposure unit (28), and a developing unit (30). Except that the four developing units (30) contain liquid developers of different colors, the structure of all printing stations is roughly the same. The paper size applies to the Chinese National Standard (CNS) A4 specification (210 X 297 mm) 1 !!! t — —! — — Service (Please read the notes on the back before filling out this page) Printed by the Consumer Cooperatives of the Intellectual Property Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs 581943 A7 B7 V. Description of Invention (4) Same. When the photosensitive drum (12) passes through each printing station in its circular path, it is firstly charged by the power distribution unit (26), and then exposed by the exposure unit (28), so as to generate an electrostatic potential of a specific color corresponding to the printing station. Image, and then the liquid developer of the corresponding color is developed by the developing unit, (30 images. After carrying all the images, media such as paper or slides (34) contact the surface carrying the color image at the transfer station (36) Therefore, the color image is transferred to the medium (34), and then the surface of the photosensitive drum is processed at the cleaning station (40) to prepare for the next color image. As can be seen from Figure 1, the liquid developer in the container (44) (42) sent to the surface of the photosensitive drum (12) between the narrow parallel plates (46) and (48); the parallel plate forms a gap (50) with the surface of the photosensitive drum, allowing liquid development when moving in the direction of the arrow When the agent contacts the surface, the gap (52) between the parallel plates allows the toner particles to be detached from the liquid toner and attached to the electric distribution area on the surface of the photosensitive drum to generate a toner image. A flow control is provided between the parallel plates. The mechanism is to maintain the constant pressure of the developer. The flow control mechanism is implemented here. The embodiment includes a fluid pressure sensor (54) and a control valve (56). The periphery of the edge of the parallel plate is provided with an airflow channel (58), and the airflow therein is derived from the air extractor (60), and its air pressure is controlled The pressure control mechanism includes a pressure sensor (62) and a flow control valve (64). According to the present invention, the solvent of the developer is preferably a non-toxic and easily evaporated liquid, such as water, ethanol, or other organic solvents. As a result, By adjusting the pressure of the liquid developer and the airflow, the toner particles in the liquid developer can be adsorbed on the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum (12), but the developer material that is not limited to the surface of the photosensitive drum remains in the developing state. In the unit, other components of the liquid developer are prevented from dispersing. According to this method, the 6 paper sizes are applicable to China National Standard (CNS) A4 (210 X 297 mm). ··-II --- *-II — I! ^ I — — — — — — — ^ «— — — — 1 —-- (please read the notes on the back before filling this page) 581943 A7 B7 V. Description of the invention (Xi) type, prevent liquid and solid The developer composition is sent to the surface of the photosensitive drum to cause contamination. Other color images. (Please read the precautions on the back before filling this page.) To ensure that the toner particles are continuously sent to the surface of the photosensitive drum, the liquid developer (42) can be circulated from the container (44) to the gap by a conventional pumping device. (50) 〇 On the other hand, the charge on the toner particles of the liquid developer (42) should have the correct polarity and be strong enough to be electrostatically adsorbed on the surface of the photosensitive drum by the latent image. The polarity of the charge on the toner particles and The size control can be implemented in many traditional ways known to those skilled in the art, and will not be repeated here. The gap (50) and the gap (52) should be approximately the same size, preferably between about (U mm and about 1 mm). between. The gap size depends on the processing speed and should decrease as the processing speed increases. With the above device, the developing units (18), (20), (22), (24) can be made compact and cheap. In addition, because the adhesion between the toner particles and the electrostatic latent image can be controlled, the developing device of the present invention can perform single-pass multi-color processing with high efficiency, and the toner particles will not leave the photosensitive drum with the surface of the photosensitive drum. Printed by the Consumer Cooperative of the Intellectual Property Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will consider many modifications and changes after reading this article. Therefore, all such modifications and changes are included in the scope defined by the scope of patent application below. This paper size applies to China National Standard (CNS) A4 specification (21〇X 297 public love) 581943 A7 B7 V. Description of the invention u) [Description of component symbols] (10) (12) (14), (16) Photoelectric imaging device Photosensitive drum roller Printed by the Consumer Cooperative of the Intellectual Property Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (18), (20), (, 22), (2.4) 歹 fj printing station (26) Power distribution unit (28) Exposure unit (30) Developing unit ( 34) Transfer media (36) Transfer station (40) Clean station (42) Liquid developer (44) Container (46), (48) Parallel plate (50), (52) Clearance (54) Fluid pressure sense Detector (56) • Control valve (58) Air channel (60) Air extractor (62) Air pressure sensor (64) Flow control valve 8 This paper size applies to China National Standard (CNS) A4 specification (210X297 mm) (Please read the notes on the back before filling this page)